Machine for surface conditioning metal bodies



Oct. 21,1947. I A 4.- MlLLEREl'AL 2,429,326

MACHINE FOR SURFACE CONDITIONING METAL BODIE S Filed march 4, 1:943 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 .v WW

ALFRED J. MILLER WILLIAM C. WEIDNER JOHN KOLODY ATTORNEY v A. J. MILLER Er AL 2,429,326

Oct. 21, 1947. I

I MACHINE FOR SURFACE CONDITIONING METAL BODIES 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4, 1945 INVENTORS ALFRED J. MILLER ATTORNEY WILLIAM C.WEIDNER E JOHN KOLODY BY H Oct. 1947 'A. J. MILLER EFAL MACHINE FOR SURFACE CONDITIONING METAL BODIES Filed March 4, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNVEN OR 1 ALFRED-J. BIILLER WILLIAM C WEIDNER JOHN KOLODY ATTORNEY A. J. MILLER ETAL Oct. 21, 1947.

MACHINE! FOR SURFACE CONDITIONING METAL BODIES Filed March 4, 1943 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS ALFRED J. MILLER WILLIAM C.WEIDNER JOHN KOLODY ATTORNEY A. .1. MILLER ETAL 2,429,326 v Oct. 21, 1947.

MACHINE FOR SURFACE CONDITIONING METAL BODIES 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 I Filed March 4, 1943 INVENTORS ALFRED J. MILLER WILLIAM C.WEIDNER JOHN OLODY ATTORNEY Oct. 21, 1947. A. J. MILLER El'AL 2,429,326

MACHINE FOR SURFACE CONDITI ONING METAL BODIES Filed March 4, 1943 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 I 125 I26 5/ g-5 /24 4 I L 1 L n 130;}; 125 125 5 T 1.2% w ii E o z: 13 J g I| i fil @IHHI i .1

INVENTORS ALFRED J. MILLER WILLIAM C. WEIDNER I JOHN KOLODY ATTORNEY Oct. 21, 1947. A. J. MILLER ErAL MACHINE FOR SURFACE CONDITIONING METAL BODIES Filed March 4, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 \NVENTORS ALFRED J. MILLER WILLIAM C. WEIDNER JOHN OLODY ATTORNEY Oct. 21, 1947., J; M 2,429,326

MACHINE FOR SURFACE CONDITIONING METAL BODIES Filed March 4, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 n 65 m I] l 1 9 155 l5!) I .5 455 0:11 I EI/ \ccj; $3 2 162 I67 I I65 I 4 g 147 g m 149;

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I INVENTORS ALFRED J. MILLER Oct. 21, l947.- A. J. MILLER ETAL MACHINE FOR SURFACE CONDITIONING METAL BODIES Filed MaiCh 4, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 9.

E A LE g mfg A W NE INVENTORS ALFRED J. MILLER WILLIAM C.WEIDNEIR JOHN KoLopY ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 21, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR SURFACE CONDITIONING METAL BODIES Application March 4, 1943, Serial No. 477,984

13 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of conditioning the surfaces of metal bodies, and more particularly to an improved machine for thermochemically removing a layer of surface metal from one or more of the longitudinal surfaces of ferrous metal bodies, such as billets, blooms, slabs, and the like.

During the production of steel shapes in a rolling mill, it is customary .to condition the surfaces of the steel bodies at an intermediate stage of the rolling steps. The purpose of such conditioning is to eliminate surface defects such as cracks, seams, and slag inclusions that would produce defects in the finished products if not removed. It has been found economical to eliminate such defects by thermochemically removing an entire surface layer of one or more longitudinal surfaces of the body to be conditioned by the use of a suitable machine preferably interposed in the mill conveyor line between roll stands such as after the blooming mill rolls. In this way the steel shapes may be conditioned while hot and without interrupting continuous production of steel.

In many instances the steel mill does not roll merely one size of billet or bloom and often several different sizes are rolled in the same blooming mill. It is therefore desired to provide a conditioning machine which can be quickly adjusted to accommodate successfully different sizes of blooms or billets, particularly different sizes of square and other rectangular cross-sectional shapes. The desurfacing, machine should therefore have conditioning heads which are relatively adjustable so as to condition simultaneously all four sides of blooms of any of various sizes within the range of sizes to be rolled by the mill. The maximum operating width of each head will. be at least equal to the Width of the widest surface which is to be conditioned by such head but the heads are so mounted as to be relatively adjustable to enclose an area of substantially the same shape and size as the cross section of bloom to be conditioned. Not only must the'eXpOsed width or surface contacting portion of each head be reduced to the width of the corresponding bloom surface, but the operating width of the surface conditioning gas stream produced by each head must be correspondingly adjusted to provide agas stream no wider than the transverse width of the corresponding bloom surface. When the conditioning heads are adjusted to treat billets smaller than the maximum size, it i desirable to protect the non-operating portion of the heads from the effects of flying particles of slag which would plug the gas orifices of the nozzlesth'at are not discharging gas.

The conditioning heads also should be mounted so that they will resiliently follow the surfaces of blooms which are somewhat irregular or warped or twisted in order that the surface conditioning streams may be maintained in the proper relation to the bloom surfaces. To this end the heads are yieldingly held against the bloom surfaces with a certain degree of pressure and therefore the heads must be supported to allow transverse movement but prevent .any displacement longitudinally of the billet when it moves through the machine.

The principal objects ofthe invention are: to provide an improved machine for surface'conditioning all the longitudinal surfaces of any of a succession of different sized metal bodies; to provide such a machine in which the surface conditioning heads are adjustable by an operator at a remote control station so that the size and shape of the opening provided by the heads can be changed according to the size and shape of the work and the width'of the surface conditioning gas streams produced by each head can similarly be changed according to the width of the corresponding surface to be conditioned; to provide such machine. having a complete rectangular frame for adjustably supporting the blowpipe head carrier mechanism to permit quick adjustment of the blowpipe heads according to the size of the body to be conditioned and to prevent displacement of the conditioning heads in the direction of movement of the body, being conditioned; to provide such machine in which the conditioning heads of opposite relatively movable units are simultaneously remotely adjustable by a single power mechanism according to the size of the body to be conditioned; to provide such machine in which the conditioning heads of opposite relatively movable units have their effective operating width adjustable by a single power-operated mechanism according to the transverse width of the corresponding surfaces to be treated; to provide means that will automatically protect the non-operating portions of thesurfaee conditioning heads when the heads are adjusted for con side heads being supported by one carrier plate and the bottom and right side heads being supported by the other carrier plate; and to provide improved selector valve mechanism for adjusting the width of the surface conditioning gas streams produced by each head.

These and other objects and novel features of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the.

accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of an exem plary conditioning or desurfacing machine embodying the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the desurfacing machine of Fig. 1 with portions broken away to show certain details;

Figs. 3 and 3a together constitute a plan view of the machine of Fig. 1, portions being broken I away more clearly to show details;

Fig. 4 is a view of a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig, 1 showing details of construction of the left-hand unit of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front view of the surface conditioning heads when adjusted to condition a smaller rectangle; Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are fragmentary detail views of the means for automatically protecting the non-operating portions of the heads when adjusted to conditionsmaller sized bodies;

Fig. 9 isa plan viewof a selector valve mechanism for adjusting the effective width of the surface conditioning gas streams produced by each;

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the valve mechanism shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a view of a section taken along the line H-ll of Fig. 9; V

Fig. 12 is a view of a section taken along the line l2-l2 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary detail view of a valve piston of the valve mechanism of Fig. 9;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a control table for the machine; and

Fig. 15 is .a detail View of an indicator dial driving device 'at the control table.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, the desurfacing machine comprises a main rectangular frame indicated at F, the lower transverse horizontal member of which is mounted for transverse horizontal movement on a'track 2!. The lower horizontal frame member comprises a rectangular supporting carriage having four wheels 22 which support the frame F on the track 2|. The main frame F also has two vertical columns 23 which support an upper horizontaltransverse metal frame member 24.

Supported by the upper and lower transverse frame members 24 and 20 are left-hand and right-hand surface conditioning units A and A which are mounted for horizontal adjustment toward and away from each other alongthe frame members 25 and 24. The left-hand unit A is shown in vertical cross section in Fig. 4. It comprises a column-like structure which is open in front and has vertical sides 25 and a vertical back plate 26. The upper ends of the sides 25 and back 26 are secured to a rectangular carriage frame 21 which has wheels 28 adjacent its corners for engaging track members 29 secured along the inside lower portion of the upper transverse frame member 24. The unit A is thus suspended from the carriage 21 and is horizontally adjustable along the track members 29.

To prevent displacement of the unit A in the direction of travel of the body being desurfaced, there is provided an upper guide 30 which has a T-shaped cross section to provide a downwardly depending web portion, the flange portion being secured along the bottom of the upper transverse member 24 at a position adjacent to and parallel to the lower rear corner of the member 24. In position to engage both sides of the guide 35 are rollers 3! which are mounted on vertically extending studs secured to a bracket 32 which is mounted on the rear of the back plate 25. Two sets of rollers 31 are provided. Secured to the top of the lower frame member 28 is a lower guide member 33 similar to the upper guide member 35 and having an upstanding web portion.

Rollers 34 engage both sides of the web of the guide 33 and these rollers 34 are mounted on downwardly depending axles 35 secured to a bottom plate 35 welded to the lower end of the vertical sides 25 and back plate 26. There are two sets of rollers 34.

The unit A is provided with a blowpipe head carrier plate 31 which is mounted for vertical movement with respect to the back plate 26. Such vertical movement of the carrier plate is provided by a pair of forwardly extending link plates 38 and 39. The rear corners of the link plates 38 and 39 are pivotally mounted on transverse horizontal shafts 40, the ends of which are secured to the sides 25. The forward corners of the link plates 38 and 39 are pivotally secured to shafts M which are mounted in brackets 42 extending rearwardly from the carrier plate 37. To prevent excessive downward movement of the carrier 37 a bumper 63 or stop is provided for engagement with the lower side of the link plate 38. The bumper 43 is carried by a transverse channel 44 secured between the lower forward corners of the sides 25.

For raising the carrier 3! and for counterbalancing the weight thereof, there is provided a pneumatic cylinder 45, the head end d6 of which is pivotally supported by a bracket M secured to the carriage frame 21. The piston rod 43 of the power cylinder extends downwardly through an opening 49 in the middle of the upper link plate 39 and is pivotally connected by a pin 50 to the end of a bracket 5| which extends rearwardly from the carrier 31. A connection 52 admits air to the rod end of the cylinder 45 at the proper pressure to either raise the piston with suincient to a high position close to its upper limit of movement. The bell crank 53 has an external rearwardly extending arm 55 arranged to engage an operating arm 5'6 of a limit switch 51. Thus, the switch 57 is closed only when the carrier approaches and remains in its upper limit position.

Two of the desurfacing heads are secured to the front of the carrier 37. The left side desurfacing head 65 is fixedly secured butthe top desurfacing head 6|, however, is adjustably secured to the carrier 3} for vertical adjustment with respect to the left-side head 68. To this end the carrier 37 has secured to its front surface a vertical slideway 62 on which is mounted a sliding plate 63, the head 6! being mounted on the front of such sliding plate. To provide Vertical adjustment of the plate 63 and the head 6] thereon, there is provided a gear within a housing 65 at the back of the carrier 31 which engages with a gear secured to the lower end of a vertical screw that has its ends journalled on the carrier and is in threaded engagement with a travelling nut secured to the rear side of the sliding plate 63. The screw pitch is preferably such that the mechanism is nonreversible to insure that pressure on the head 6| cannot alter the adjustment. The gearin the housing 65 is rotated by a universal-joint connection 68 that is at the forward end of a forwardly and rearwardly extending shaft 69. The rear end of the shaft 69 is connected by a universal joint 10 with a bevel gear in a bevel-gear 110115- ing 12. The bevel gear housing '12 is supported at the back of the back plate 26 and the other bevel gear inthe housing 12 is connected through a universal joint [4 to the lower end of an upwardly extending shaft 15. The upper end of the shaft '15 is connected by a universal joint it with a bevel gear within a gear housing 18. The bevel gear in the housing i8 meshes with a mating gear that is keyed to a horizontal transverse shaft 89 (Fig. 2). Thus, by rotation of the shaft 80 the sliding plate 63 can be raised or lowered with respect 'to the carrier plate 31 and the upper head 6| can be adjusted vertically along the left-side head 60.

The shaft 88 is mounted in bearings 8! which are secured at suitable points along the back of the upper transverse frame member 2A. One end of the shaft 8!! is coupled to a reversible electric motor 82 supported on a bracket 82' which is mounted on the rear of the upper frame member 24. The portion of the shaft 86 which extends rightward carries a bevel gear within a housing 18' similar to the housing 18 and is coupled to a synchronous motor transmitter device 83.

Associated with each conditioning head Eli and 6| is a selector valve'mechanism preferably of the type illustrated in Figs. 9 to 13 and which will be described hereinafter. For operating the selector Valve mechanism of the upper head 55!, there is provided a flexible shaft 84 having one end coupled preferably by gearing, to the selector valve mechanism (clutch I62 of Fig. 11) and the other end coupled to a bevel gear within a gear housing 86 that is mounted on top of an extension 8'lalong the rear of the upper frame member 24. The selector valve mechanism of the leftside head 60 is similarly coupled to a flexible shaft 88, the other end of which is connected with a bevel gear within a gear housing 99 also mounted on the extension 81. The gear housing 86 (Figs. 3 and 3a) contains a second bevel gear meshing with the first-mentioned bevel gear which second gear is keyed to the horizontal shaft 9| which is carried by a series of bearings 92 mounted on the extension 81 and a similar right-hand extension 81. The left end of the shaft 9! is coupled to a reversible electric motor 93 and the right-hand end of the shaft 9!, which extends through a. gear box as similar to the left-hand housing 86, is coupled to a self-synchronous motor transmitter 94. Similarly the gear within the gear housing 90 meshes with a bevel gear that is keyed to the horizontal shaft 96 which runs in bearin s 91. The left-hand end of the shaft $5 is coupled to a self-synchronou motor transmitter 93 While the right-hand end of the shaft 96 is coupled to a reversible electric motor 99. On the shaft 95 close to the motor 99 is mounted a bevel gear within a gear housing 90 which is similar to the gear housing 90.

The right-hand unit A is constructed quite similar to the left-hand unit A, the arrangement A of the parts as required being opposite handed.

The right-hand unit A has a vertical back plate 26' (Fig. 2), a. carriage frame 21' (Fig.3a) with wheels 28"arranged to roll along track members 29', rollers 3| for engagement with upper guide 30' (Fig. 2), rollers 34' for engagement with lower guide member 33' and a carrier plate 31' (Fig. 3a) mounted similarly to plate 31 and moved vertically by a pneumatic cylinder 45'. To the lower portion of the carrier plate 31' however,

the bottom head I00 (Figs. 1 and 2) is fixedly mounted in a position to the left of the back plate 26 and. in a position to engage with the under surface of a billet or bloom. The right-side head lfli is movably mounted on the carrier plate 31' for vertical adjustment with respect to the bottom head I00. To provide such adjustment the carrier plate 31 is provided with a vertical slideway I02 (Fi 1) along which a sliding plate I03 may be moved. For vertical adjustment of the right-side head a similar vertical screw, travelling nut and universally jointed shaft arrangement is provided. Such shaft is rotated through bevel gears in a gear box 12 (Fig. 2) connected with the gear box 18 through a universally jointed shaft 15. Thus, by operation of the electric motor 82 both the upper head 6! and the right side head [0| are simultaneously raised or simultaneously lowered and the size of the opening between the heads can be rapidly changed according to the size of the billet or bar to be treated. This vertical adjustment of the upper and right-side heads. provides the necessary adjustment for the vertical thickness of the bar or billet.

The air supply to the power cylinder 45 (Fig. 3a) is controlled somewhat differently from the control for the air supply to the cylinder 45 (Fig. 3). When the heads I00 and ['01 are to be lowered to the' non-operating position the air is released to the atmosphere from the connection 52 (Fig. 3a) of cylinder 45'. When the head IEH! is raised to operating position in contact with the bottom of the workpiece to be desurfaced, air under a regulated pressure less than line pressure is supplied to the connection 52 and such regulated pressure is selected so that the upward force exerted by the piston rod on the carrier 3'! is sufficient to fully overcome the weight and also maintain the head Hill in contact with the workpiece with a desired pressure. A valve arrangement is preferably provided for the right hand connection 52' (Figs. 1 and 3a.) which, in one position, connects it to the air line through a pressure regulator. For the left hand connection 52' there may be provided a valve arrangement that, in one position, connects direct to the air line and in the other position connects to the line through a pressure regulator set to maintain a pressure that will not counterbalance all the weight.

A limit switch 5'! (Fig. 2) similar to switch 51 is mounted on the back 26' of unit A. This switch has an operating member 56 moved by an outside arm of a pivoted lever on the back 26' which lever has an inner arm in position to engage the lower side of a link plate. The lever arms are arranged so that the limit switch is closed only when the link and carrier 3'! are in their lowermost positions.

In Fig. 1 the machine is shown adjusted so that the particular heads mounted thereon are positioned to 'desurf'ace the largest size bloom that the heads are designed to condition, Larger blooms could be'conditioned by providing wider conditioning heads. When the head BI is adjusted downwardly, it is'shifted along the left-hand head 50 as indicated in Fig. 5 to reduce theexposed width of the head 60. When theright-hand head IIlI is adjusted downwardly, it' is shifted along the right side of the lower head I08 to reduce the exposed width of the right head IilI, as shown in Fig. 5. ,In order to condition blooms and billets having a narrower transverse width than the maximum, the two units A and A are moved toward each other. Thus, the lower head I and right side head I (H are shifted to the left and the left side head 63 and upper head BI are shifted to the right so that the lower head I09 moves along the lower side of the left-side head 60 and the upper head :61 moves along the upper side of the right-side head It. It Will be seen that with this arrangement it is not necessary to provide a separate motor drive for adjusting each of the upper and right-side heads El and I53! respectively. Also, by having the upper head BI- and the right-side head IBI vertically adjustable, the vertical operating-position of the carrier plates 31 and 3'! will be substantially the same when conditioning any size billet within the range of the machine. Thus during the conditioning of any size billet, the links 38, 39 will be in their most efficient operating position in which their arcuate swing has no adverse effect. Since the blooms and billets are carried along a conveyor line, the lower surface of each bloom will be at the same level whatever its size may be, its level being determined by the conveyor rollers. If the left side head were vertically adjustable on the carrier plate 31 instead of they upper head iii, the operating position of-the carrier plate 31 would be high when desurfacing large blooms and low when desurfacing small blooms. The chief advantage of the present arrangement which keeps the floating links substantially horizontal is that the nozzles of the heads on both carriers are maintained in the same transverse plane 1. e. the nozzles on the left carrier are not offset to the rear with respect to the nozzles on the right carrier due to arcuate motion of the links.

Horizontal adjustment of the conditioning heads is accomplished by moving the entire units A and A toward and away from each other. For this purpose the carriage frames 21 and 21 could be individually motor driven but in such case the side heads would not be free to follow irregular bloom sides. According to the invention, it is preferable to interconnect the units by a power cylinder device. Such device preferably comprises two pneumatic cylinders I86 (-Fig, 3) and I86 (Fig. 3a) having their main axes horizontal and their head ends I El? and I 07' connected together by a bar 283. The bar I 88 is arranged to slide horizontally through a bearing I89 which is mounted in a transverse central partition lit across the upper main frame member 24. To prevent the bar I68, cylinders Hi6 and IE6 from rotating, the bar I68 is preferably provided with a longitudinal spline-way extending the full length, and the bearing IBQ-has a key Ill engag ing the spline-way. The cylinders I86, 596 have piston rods H2 and H2 extending outwardly from their rod ends H3 and I: I3. The rods I2 and H2 are pivotally connected to brackets II 4 and He which are mounted on the carriages 21 and 27' respectively.

A flexible tube for supplying air or other motive fluid is connected to each end of each of the cylinders E85 and H33. Thus, the tubes H5 and H5 are connected to the head ends I07 and H37,

and the tubes IE6 and HS are connected-to the rod ends I3 and H3. When air is supplied to the tubes H5 and H5, the carriages 27, 21' and the units A and A are moved away from each other and when air under pressure is supplied through the tubes H6 and H6, the units A and A are pulled toward each other. During a desurfacing operation, a proper air pressure is maintained on the rod side of the pistons in the cylinders I86 and IE6 in order to maintain the side heads 60 and IM in constant contact with the sides of the bloom or billet being desurf aced, The provision of the bar I08 working within the hearing I 69 fixed to the main frame insures that the units A and A will be free to float horizontally so as to follow the surface of a billet or bloom. At the same time, the units A and A and the side heads 69 and Iill are resiliently movable toward and from each other in order to accommodate small variations in width of a bloom being conditioned. The length of the bar 108 is so chosen that excessive displacement of the midpoint between the heads 60 and IIJI from the main vertical center line of the machine is prevented.

When the carriage frames 21 and 21' are moved apart to their extreme position, cam brackets ll'l (Fig, 3) and II'! (Fig. 3a) secured to the ends of the carriage frames 21 are positioned to contact with the arms II 8 and II 8' of limit switches H9 and H9. The function of these switches will be described hereinafter.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 5 to 8, inelusive, the means for protecting the non-operating portions of the conditioning heads when the heads are adjusted for billets smaller than the maximum size, comprises four water-cooled shields indicated generally at S. Each shield S is secured to that side of each desurfacing head along which the billet surface contacting portion of the adjacent head moves when the heads are adjusted for smaller sized billets. By securing the shields in this position, the nozzles of the adjacent heads which are not in use are effectively covered and protected from the effect of flying particles of slag incident to the reaction produced by the nozzles operating adjacent the corner, The shields S may be fixed in place and when so positioned they automatically cover and protect whatever nozzles are not in operation in any adjusted relation Of the desurfacing heads.

Each shield S comprises a parallelogramshaped block I20 having a cooling chamber I2I therein. To one end of the chamber [H is connected an inlet conduit E22 and an outlet conduit I23 for cooling water, The block I Zllhas an ear I 24 welded to it, which car is clamped to an angle bracket I25 that has a portion secured under the head of a bolt I26 adjacent the end of a desurfacing head such as the right end of the lower desurfacing head I90. The block I20 has a face I21 which is parallel to but spaced a slight distance away from the nozzle-end face of the adjacent desurfacing head such as the rightside head IBI and against this face I21 there is adjustably secured a contact shoe I28. This contact shoe I28 is adjustable and readily removable for replacement, if necessary. The shoe 8 s secured against the face I27 b a bolt I29 that has a square head I 36 engaging with shoulders in a slot I3! extending to the inside end of the shoe [28. 7

Figs. 9 to 13, inclusive, show details of a selector valve mechanism which varies the effective operating width of the desurfacing heads by controlling the width of the gas streams produced bythe heads. The desurfacing or blowpipe heads 9 66, 6|, I66, and IIII are preferably similar to the blow-pipe heads disclosed in Patent No. 2,362,536, dated November 14, 1944. Each of such heads is provided with a row of relatively large oxygen outlet orifices surrounded by smaller preheating flame orifices. The orifices are indicated at 6 in Fig. 5. The desurfacing heads are provided with suitable passages for supplying oxygen to the large oxygen orifices and a combustible gas mixture such as a mixture of acetylene and oxygen to the smaller preheating passages. Associated with each desurfacing head there is a gas-mixing device for mixing the acetylene and oxygen and there are separate passages for conducting the acetylene and the preheating oxygen to such mixing device. The selector valve means therefore controls the supply of main desurfacing oxygen and a separate supply of preheating oxygen as well as the supply of acetylene.

The selector valve mechanism is somewhat similar to that disclosed in Patent 2,392,806 dated Janpary 15, 1946. An improved form of such mechanism preferably employed for controlling the effective operating width of each of the heads 66, 6I, I66, and I9I is illustrated in Figs. 9 to 13.

The selector valve comprises three cylindrical manifolds I35, I36, and I31, the manifold I35 being for acetylene or fuel gas, the manifold I36 being for desurfacing oxygen, and the manifold I31 being for preheat oxygen. Each manifold is provided with a row of outlets having nipples I38, I39, and I46 respectively, for connecting the outlets with pieces of tubing which conduct the respective gases from the manifolds to the passages in the corresponding desurfacing head which connect with the gas outlet orifices. For example, the nipples I39 are connected with the large oxygen outlet orifices of the head 66, the nipple I39 furthest to the left being preferably connected with the uppermost desurfacing oxygen outlet orifice of the head 69. g The remaining nipples are connected with the remaining desurfacing orifices in similar succession so that when the nipples I39 are progressively shut off, starting from the left, the width of the desurfacing oxygen stream produced by the head 66, will be shortened downwardly from the top. In the case of the desurfacing head 6I the gas outlet orifices are shut off successively from the right toward the left. In the case of the lower head I66, the gas outlet orifices are progressively shut off from the left toward the right and in the case of the right-hand head IEII, the gas outlet orifices are progressively shut off in the upward direction. The nipples I38 are connected by tubing with acetylene passages of the respective head leading to the gas mixer for the preheating outlet orifices associated with each desurfacing oxygen orifice, the nipples I46 are connected with the preheat oxygen passages connected with the same mixers as the corresponding nipples I38. The right ends of manifolds I35, I36, and I31 are supplied respectively with acetylene through a connection I4I, with desurfacing oxygen through a connection I42, and with preheat oxygen through a connection I43.

The manifolds I35, I36, and I31are provided with valving elements in the form of pistons I44, I45, and I45 which gas-tightly close the left ends of the manifolds and which are longitudinally slideable in the manifolds so as to successively cut oif the communication of the respective nipples I39, I39, I49 with the interior of the-manifolds I35, I36, and I31 when the pistons are moved to the right. The pistons are secured at the right ends of rack bars I41, I48, and I49 that extend axially to the left. The rack bars pass through a frame I56 on one side of which the manifolds I35, I36, and I31 are secured. When the pistons I44, I45, and I46 are in their extreme left position, the rack bars I41, I48, and I49 extend to the left of the frame I56 and are preferably covered by tubular housings I5I, I52, and I53.

The rack bars have upwardly extending teeth I54 which mesh with pinions I55, I56, and I51 (Fig. 11) which are keyed to a transverse shaft I56 above the rack bars. The shaft I58 is journalled in bearings I59 of the frame I56. Under each rack bar and directly below the respective pinions I55, I56, and I51 there is located a supporting roller I66 mounted on studs I6I secured to the frame I56. The rollers I66 maintain the rack bars in proper engagement with their respective pinions. One end of the shaft I58 extends externally of the frame I56 and is keyed to one half of a clutch I62. The other half of clutch I62 is connected as previously described with one of the flexible shafts 84, 83, 84', and 88'. For example, the selector valve which is associated with the desurfacing head 66 is connected through its clutch I52 and gearing with the flexible shaft 83. Each clutch I62 has a removable key I62 so that each selector valve may be disengaged from its corresponding flexible shaft when it is desired that selector valves may be manually operated.

Means for setting the selector valves manually if desired may also be provided as illustrated by providing a hand wheel I63 secured to the opposite end of the shaft I58. When the handwheel I63 is used, the key I62 is removed so that the shaft I58 is disconnected from the flexible shaft drive. The shaft I58 is also geared to an indicator drum I64 which has circumferential marks thereon, indicating the number of sets of nipples I38, I39, and I46, which are in open communication with their respective manifolds and thereby show the number of main desurfacing oxygen orifices and their accompanying preheat orifices that are in operation. The drum I64 is rotatably mounted on a bracket I65 and is secured to a gear I66 that meshes with a pinion I61 keyed to the shaft I58.

When the shaft I58 is turned either by the flexible shaft connected to the clutch I62 with key IE2 in place or by the handwheel I63 with key I62 removed, the pinions I55, I56, and I51 will simultaneously move the rack bars I41, I46, and I49 and the pistons I44, I45, and I46 thereon simultaneously the same amount to the right to close off the proper number of manifold outlets. At the same time the drum I64 will be rotated to indicate the number of main gas outlet orifices that have been cut off and to show whether the pistons I44, I45, and I46 are accurately positioned with respect tothe manifold outlets.

One of the pistons, particularly piston I46, is illustrated in Fig. 13 and preferably comprises a body I68 having a retaining member I69 secured centrally thereof, which retaining member has a disk-like collar I16 on the left or rod side of the body I68. To the left of the collar I16 the member I69 has a headed extension I'II which engages with a retaining slot I12 in the end of the respective rack bar I49. The seal is provided by a main packing ring I13 having a trapezoidal cross section and two chevron-shaped packing rings I14. The ring I13 is secured between a flange I15 of head I63 and a ring I16 and th rings I14 are secured between thering I I6 and an annular axially slideable skirt I". To hold the skirt ll"! and to provide constant compression on the rings I14 and I13, a spring I18 is provided, acting between a shoulder of the sleeve Ill and the collar I10. From Figs. 9, 10, 12 and 13, it may be seen that by loosening the securing bolts holding the cylindrical manifolds I35, I136 and I31 to their respective connecting pipes I4l, 42 and I43, that such connecting pipes may be moved away from their manifolds and pistons I44, I 45 and I46 moved out of the manifolds. The headed extension llI may then be slid from its slot I12 and any or all of said pistons replaced as a unit.

The desurfacing machine is preferably operated from a control station at a distance from the machine. At such control station there is a control table I90 (Fig. is) which, except as hereinafter described, may be similar to that illustrated and described in United States Patent No. 2,244,- 822 and the electrical control system may also be similar to that described in the patent. The control table I90 has additional features including three indicator dials I9I, I92 and I93 the pointers I94 of which are rotated through gearing in the dial cases by self-synchronous motor receivers I95, which are supported on a shelf I98 attached to the rear of a vertical back panel I99. There are also three motor control switches in the control table having operating handles 2:: I, 282 and 203 which are spring biased so that they automatically return to the central or stop position when displaced therefrom in either direction.

The added control elements are associated with the desurfacing machine as follows: The selfsynchronous motor receiver I195 that operates the pointer of dial I9I, which is marked to indicate inches of billet or slab thickness, is connected by wires 204 to th self-synchronous motor transmitter 83 (Fig. 2) which is rotated by the shaft 80. The transmitter 83 and receiver I95 are electrically interlocked in the customary way so that any movement of the transmitter immediately results in similar movement of the receiver. The gear ratios of the gearing in the dial case I9! are selected with respect to the numbering on the dial and the gear ratio of the movement transmitting mechanism between the shaft 80 and the screws that raise and lower the heads 6i and HH so that the exposed width of the heads 60 and IDI measured in inches will correspond eX- actly with the width in inches indicated by the dial I9I. The switch 29I is electrically connected in the customary way with a source of electricity and the motor 82. This connection is arranged to cause the motor 82 to run in the direction that raises the heads BI and IIlI simultaneously when the switch 20I is displaced to the left and to run in the opposite direction when the switch handle 2IlI is displaced to the right. To adjust the heads for a particular height or thickness of billet or slab to be desurfaced the operator merely holds the handle 20'I displaced to the right or left as may be necessary until the pointer f the dial I9I indicates such height or thickness.

The receiver that turns the pointer of dial I92 is connected by wires 295 to the transmitter 98 (Fig. 3) which is rotated by the shaft 98. The shaft 96 being coupled through flexible shafting 88 and 88' to the selector valves associated with heads 60 and IBI, and the gear ratios bein properly chosen, the position of the selector valve pistons will be indicated by the pointer of dial I92. The switch 202 is connected by suitable electrical circuit arrangements with the reversi- 12 ble motor 99 (Fig. So) that drives the shaft 96. The connections are such that the motor runs in a direction to increase the number of nozzles in operations in the side heads 60 and I91 when the switch 282 is displaced to the left and that the motor will run in the opposite direction when the handle 202 is displaced to the right. The receiver of dial I93 is similarly connected by wires 2% to the transmitter 94 and the motor 93 is connected electrically with the switch 203 so that movement of the switch to the left runs the motor 93 in the direction that moves the pistons of the selector valves associated with heads SI and I39 to increase the number of nozzles that can receive gas in the heads. The width of the flame or desurfacing gas stream produced by the upper and lower heads can thus be selected and such width is indicated by the dial I93.

The control table has the customary control switch 297 for the motor that drives the conveyor or roll table which is customarily employed to move the workpiece through the desurfacing machine. Such roll table is not shown in the interests of clearness of the drawing. The roll table motor controller '20! is connected in series with the aforementioned limit switches on the desurfacing machine i. e. the switches II 9 and H9 (Figs. 3 and 3a) in order that the workpiece cannot be propelled by use of the switch handle 2H1 unless the carriages 21 and 27' are separated and the units A and A are in their non-operating position, and the switches 51 and 57' (Figs. 2 and 4) of the units A and A in order that the workpiece may not be propelled by use of the switch handle 20'! unless the carrier 31 and heads 60 and 6| are raised to theirupper non-operating position and the carrier 31 and heads Ill!) and IIlI are lowered to their non-operating position. The operation of the machine when actually desurfacing a workpiece is controlled by the controller handle 208 in a. manner similar to that described in aforementioned Patent 2,244,- 822. When the controller 208 is in the off position the roll table may be operated by the handle 20! but in other positions of controller 268 the handle 20'! is inoperative.

When a particular size of bloom or slab is to be desurfaced the operator takes note of the thickness and width thereof and holds the handle 2I1I to the right or left until the indicator dial I9I shows the proper dimension to indicate that the heads GI and II have beenvertically adjusted for the thickness of the blooms. The operator then holds the handle 202 to the right or left while the dial I 92 indicates that the proper number of nozzles are operative in the side heads 69 and IGI to cover the vertical sides of the bloom and he holds the handle 203 displaced until the dial I93 indicates that the proper number of nozzles are operative in the upper and lower heads BI and ID!) to cover the top and bottom faces of the bloom. The handle 201 is moved to forward position in order to position the initial end of the bloom within the plane of the heads and then handle 29'! is returned to oil position. The machine may now be operated by controller 293.

By movement of controller 208 to position I, solenoid operaed air valves are energized to sup ply air to connections IIB and I I6 which will cause 'units'A and A to be moved horizontally toward each other until the side heads 6!! and IJI 7 contact the sides of the bloom. The airpressure supplied to the connections H6 and H6 is maintained sufiicient to provide the desired degree of pressure of the heads against the bloom sides. At

the same time that the units A and A are moved toward each other, a solenoid valve is energized to admit air at regulated pressure to the connection 52 of the cylinder 65' in the unit A to raise and maintain the lower head H30 in contact with the bottom of the billet and a solenoid valve is energized to release air from and then maintain a regulated pressure of air at the connection 52 of the cylinder 45 in the unit A to lower the upper head SI into contact with the top surface of the billet.

Movement of the controller 208 to position 2 turns on in the customary manner, the main valves for the preheat gases and such gases after mixing and issuing from the desurfacing nozzle preheat orifices become ignited by the heat of the billet. After a short period of time, to permit heating of a zone completely around the billet, to the ignition temperature, the controller 288 is moved to position 3 to turn On the main oxidizing gas valve to provide the oxidizing gas stream which thermochemically combines with the surface metal of the billet. Simultaneously with the turning on of the main oxidizing gas, the billet is started moving through the machine at a relatively rapid predetermined rate and a complete layer of surface metal is thermochemically removed. When the trailing end of the billet approaches the desurfacing heads, it will be usually desirable to start the heads moving away from the billet in order to'avoid possible damage due to upstanding irregularities at the end of the billet. Movement of the heads away from the billet is accomplished by moving the controller 208 to position 4 which operates the. solenoid valves to increase to line pressure the air admitted to the cylinder 45 through connection 52, release the air pressure admitted through the connection 52 to the cylinder -45, and admit air under pressure to the connections I I5 and l l5 of the cylinders Hi6 and I86 to separate the units A and A. In the 5th position of the controller 293 the solenoid valves controlling the gases are de-ener' gized. If the next billet to be desurfaced is of the same size, there need be no adjustment of the heads and selector valves by operation of the switches 2M, 202, and 203;

It will be obvious that gauging means may be located along the conveyor line for gauging the width and height of the body to be desurfaced before it reaches thedesurfacing machine and such width and height gauging mechanism may be connected to operate dials readable by the operator to indicate how the desurfacing machine should be adjusted.

The mechanism illustrated and described herein is one embodiment which discloses the principles of the invention. Obviously, certain features of the invention may be used independently of others and changes may be made in various parts of the apparatus without departing from the essentials of the invention. It is to be understood that terms of orientation are relative, that the principles of the invention may be employed in apparatus for conditioning metal bodies other than hot steel bodies or of other metal compositions, and that other types of surface conditioning heads may be employed for conditioning the surfaces of metal bodies.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for conditioning the longitudinal surfaces of successive rectangular metal bodies having different cross-sectional dimensions when such bodies are longitudinally propelled through the apparatus, said apparatus comprising upper,

14' lower, left side, and right side surface conditioning blowpipe heads, each head being adapted to apply a gaseous stream against a corresponding one of the longitudinal surfaces of such metal body, each such head having an operating width equal to the width of the widest corresponding surface to be conditioned by it and being constructed so that the width of the gaseous stream produced thereby is adjustable to the width of any particular corresponding surface to be conditioned; a carrier for supporting the upper head and one side head; said upper head being vertically adjustable on its carrier with respect to said side head to vary the exposed width of said side head; a second carrier for supporting the lower head and the other side head; said other side head being vertically adjustable on the second carrier to vary its exposed width above the lower head; means for supporting said carriers including at least one horizontally movable car- I riage for moving at least one of said carriers toward and away from the body to be conditioned; and means for simultaneously adjusting said upper head and said vertically adjustable side head.

2. Apparatus for conditioning the longitudinal surfaces of successive rectangular metal bodies having different cross-sectional dimensions when such bodies are longitudinally propelled through the apparatus, said apparatus comprising upper, lower, left side, and right side surface conditioning blowpipe heads, each head being adapted to apply a gaseous stream against a corresponding one of the longitudinal surfaces of such metal body, each such head having an operating width equal to the width of the widest corresponding surface to be conditioned by it and being constructed so that the width of the gaseous stream produced thereby is adjustable to the width of any particular corresponding surface to be conditioned; a main frame; mechanism for supportin said heads on said frame and for adjusting each of said heads transversely of the corresponding longitudinal surface to vary the exposed width of such head according to the width of said surface; and a shield secured along one side of each head in a position to cover and protect the non-operating portion of the front face of the adjacent head which extends beyond the corner of the shieldcarrying side of each head.

3. In surface conditioning apparatus, the combination of a surface conditioning unit including a pair of adjacent angularly disposed heads, each head being adapted to apply a gaseous stream against contiguous longitudinal surfaces of a metal body when moving past said heads; means for supporting said unit to position said heads adjacent said surfaces; mechanism for adjusting one of said heads transversely relatively to the other of said heads for varying the exposed operating width of said other head according to the width of the surface to be conditioned by said other head; and a shield secured to the side of said adjustable head in a position to cover and protect the non-operating portion 'of the front face of said other head.

4. In surface conditioning apparatus a surface conditioning unit including a pair of adjacent angularly disposed heads, each head being adapted to apply a gaseous stream against contiguous longitudinal suriaces'of a metal body when moving past said heads; means for supporting said unit to position said heads adjacent said surfaces; mechanism for adjusting one of said heads relatively to the other of said heads for varying the exposed operating width of the adjustable head according to the width of the surface to be conditioned by the adjustable head; and a shield secured to the side of said other head in a position to cover and protect the non-operating portion of the front face of said adjustable head.

5. Apparatus for conditioning the longitudinal surfaces of successive rectangular metal bodies having different cross-sectional dimensions when such bodies are longitudinally propelled through the apparatus, said apparatus comp-rising upper, lower, left side, and right side surface conditioning blowpipe heads, each head being adapted to apply a gaseous stream against a corresponding one of the longitudinal surfaces of such metal body, each such head having an operating width equal to the width of the widest corresponding surface to be conditioned by it; a carrier for supporting the upper head and one side head; a second carrier for supporting the lower head and the other side head; a main frame; means for supporting said carriers on said frame for limited movement toward and away from and transversely of the body; a valving device associated with each head for adjusting the width of the gaseous stream produced thereby; a reversible motor connected by power transmission with the valving devices associated with the upper and lower heads for simultaneously and similarly changing the operating width of such heads in accordance with the width of the body; and a reversible motor connected by power transmission with the valving devices associated with the side heads for simultaneously and similarly changing the operating width of the side heads according to the height or vertical thickness of the body to be conditioned.

6. Apparatus for conditioning the longitudinal surfaces of successive rectangular metal bodies having difierent cross-sectional dimensions when such bodies are longitudinally propelled through the apparatus, said apparatus comprising upper, lower, left side, and right side surface condition ing blowpipe heads, each head being adapted to apply a gaseous stream against a corresponding one of the longitudinal surfaces of such metal body, each such head having an operating width equal to the Width of the widest corresponding surface to be conditioned by it; a carrier for supporting the upper head and one side head; a second carrier for supporting the IOWBr head and the other side head; a main frame; means for supporting said carriers on said frame for limited movement toward and away from and transversely of the body; a mechanism on each carrier for adjusting the relative position of one of the heads on each carrier with respect to the other head on such carrier; and a reversible motor connected by power transmission with both of such adjusting mechanisms for adjusting the heads on each carrier simultaneously according to one of the transverse dimensions of the body to be conditioned.

7. Apparatus for conditioning the longitudinal surfaces of successive rectangular metal bodies having different cross-sectional dimensions when such bodies are longitudinally propelled through the apparatus, said apparatus comprising upper, lower, left side, and right side surface conditioning blowpipe heads, each head being adapted to apply a gaseous stream against'a corresponding one of the longitudinal surfaces of such metal body, each such head having an operating width equal to the width of the widest corresponding surface to be conditioned by it and being so constructed that the width of the gaseous stream produced thereby is adjustable to the width of any particular corresponding surface to be conditioned; a carrier for supporting the upper head and one side head; said upper head being vertically adjustable on its carrier with respect to said side head to vary the exposed height of said side head; a second carrier for supporting the lower head and the other side head; said other side head being vertically adjustable on the second carrier to vary its exposed height above the lower head; means for supporting the said carriers including at least one horizontally movable carriage for moving at least one of said carriers toward and away from the body to be conditioned; mechanism for vertically adjusting the positions of the upper head on its carrier and said other side head on its carrier; and a single power means for operating said mechanism simultaneously to adjust the heads according to the height or vertical thickness of the body to be conditioned.

8. Apparatus for conditioning longitudinal surfaces of metal bodies when such bodies are longitudinally propelled through the apparatus, said apparatus comprising surface conditioning blowpipe heads for applying gaseous streams against opposite longitudinal surfaces of such metal body; two carriers disposed on opposite sides of said body for supporting respective blowpipe heads; a main frame having upper and lower transverse members positioned respectively above and below the metal body; vertically extending carriage units disposed on each side of the metal body for supporting the respective carriers; said units being movable toward and away from each other; ways along one of said transverse members on which said carriage units run for supporting said units; ways along the other of said transverse members along which said units are guided to maintain said units vertical and hold them against displacement in the direction of longitudinal movement of the body; and a power device connected between said carriage units for moving the units toward and away from each other, such power device including means to prevent movement of either unit beyond the center line of the path of the bodies through said apparatus.

9. Apparatus for conditioning longitudinal surfaces of metal bodies when such bodies are longitudinally propelled through the apparatus, said apparatus comprising surface conditioning blowpipe heads for applying gaseous streams against opposite 1ongitudinal surfaces of such metal body; two carriers disposed on opposite sides of said body for supporting respective blowpipe heads; a main frame having upper and lower transverse members positioned respectively above and below the metal body; vertically extending carriage units disposed on each side of the metal body for supporting the respective carriers, said units being movable toward and away from each other; ways along one of said transverse members on which said carriage units run for supporting said units; ways along the other of said transverse members along which said units are guided to maintain said units vertical and hold them against displacement in the direction of longitudinal movement of the body; a power device connected between said carriage units comprising fluid power cylinder means located betweenlthe units and having pistons with piston rods extending toward each carriage, the outer endsof said piston rods being connected to the respective carriage units whereby fluid pressure applied against the rod sides of said pistons will draw the units toward each other and fluid pressure applied against the pistons on the side opposite the rods will move the units apart; and means secured to said main frame for slidingly supporting said power cylinder means to provide free transverse movement of said power device and both said units in unison irrespective of the degree of spacing of said units maintained by said power device.

10. A scarfing machine of the type having nozzle heads for four sides of the work, a carrier for a pair of adjacent heads movable laterally and vertically to retract the heads from the work, one head of said pair being adjustable along the other head of said pair, a second carrier for the opposite pair of adjacent heads and also movable laterally and vertically with respect to the work to retract the heads from the work, one head of the pair on said second carrier being adjustable along the other head of said pair, and means for simultaneously adjusting each adjustable head of each pair.

11. A scarfing machine of the type having nozzle heads for four sides of the work, a carrier for a pair of adjacent heads movable laterally and vertically to retract the heads from the work, one head of said pair being adjustable along the other head of said pair, a second carrier for the opposite pair of adjacent heads and also movable laterally and vertically with respect to the work to retract the heads from the work, one head of the pair on said second carrier being adjustable along the other head of said pair, and means for simultaneously adjusting each adjustable head of each pair, the adjustable heads of each pair being adjacent one another when in operative position.

12. A desurfacing machine having nozzle heads on four sides of the work, a carrier plate for heads on two adjacent sides of the work including the upper head and a lateral head, pivotal links on which said carrier plate is mounted for vertical movement toward and from the work, said head being vertically adjustable with respect to said carrier plate and lateral head to control the height of said upper head for cooperation with the upper work surface while the pivotal links are in a predetermined position, and means for moving said carrier plate on said links toward and from the work.

13. A desurfacing apparatus comprising nozzle heads for each side of the work, means for moving each pair of heads toward and from the work, said means including wheeled carriages for horizontal movement and pivotal links movable in vertical planes for vertical movement of the heads, mechanism for moving each pair of heads to a work cooperative position, and means for vertically adjusting one head of each pair to the'size of the work being desurfaced and with respect to the pivotal links supporting said adjustable heads to bring each of said links to a substantially horizontal position during cooperation of the heads with the work.

ALFRED J. MILLER.

WILLIAM C. WEIDNER.

JOHN KOLODY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

